Shirley Lavelle Moss

Shirley LaVelle Neeley Moss was born in Sallisaw, OK on April 26, 1940 to Stanley and Vanda Neeley and passed away September 11, 2017 after a brief illness. She grew up in Bulo, OK and Yale, OK before graduating from Del City High School in 1958. It was while working at the general store in Yale, owned by Walt and Mainey Curteman that she was set up on a blind date with their nephew Toby Moss. Toby later said he knew she was the one when, on their first date, she stuck her elbow in the butter and then very elegantly scraped it off with her knife and flicked it back in the bowl without batting an eye.

The two were married by the bride’s father on December 22, 1957 at the Yale Church of Christ. Shirley and Toby lived in Del City and Claremore before settling in Stillwater in 1974. They were married for many years and raised four children before divorcing, though both would later admit they couldn’t remember exactly why they parted ways. They remained close friends and were once again inseparable by the time Toby passed away in 2014.

Shirley worked for many years at the Stillwater Police Department, retiring in 1995 so that she could take care of her grandson Cody, so that he wouldn’t have to go to daycare. In later years she spent summers working at Lake McMurtry where she enjoyed visiting with the regular campers and working with Rodney and Beth, who always made her feel like a valued part of the team even though she was in her “golden years” as she called them.

She enjoyed canvas painting, gardening, fishing and going to garage sales, as well as playing cards and board games with her family. There were always plenty of shenanigans at family gatherings and mom loved every minute of it. She was funny, kind, generous and hard-working; a genuinely good person who loved life. She didn’t have an abundance of material possessions but she had a family who loved her very much and we have been left with a huge void in our lives, but take comfort in believing that she and Toby are together again. We are blessed with countless laugh out loud memories and we know that mom would want us to focus on those even in our sadness.

Shirley was preceded in death by her father Stanley Neeley, her brother James Neeley and her best friend Toby Moss. She is survived by her mother Vanda, her brother Stan (Louanna), her four children Steve (Mindy), Tammy (Mike), Scott and Kimberly. Also surviving are eight grandsons: Jason (Jenn), Robb (Natalie), Dakota (Molly), Chris, Brandon (Tina), Zach and Cody Moss, and Josh Luke (Elisa). She is also survived by nine great-grandsons as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

Memorial Service will be Thursday, September 14 at 10:30 am at the Perry Church of Christ.
Arrangements are entrusted in the care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home of Perry.
Condolences may be sent to the family via www.pmcfh.com.